The popular pillar of the North Shore community has been a mainstay for more than 80 years and is the second oldest shopping center in the United States. Along with the rich history, Plaza del Lago boasts a robust mix of on-trend and classic with its diverse mix of leading retailers, one-of-a-kind boutiques, distinctive restaurants, grocery and services.

What is now Plaza del Lago was once a 22-acre unincorporated plot of land marked by lawlessness and unwanted by the neighboring towns of Wilmette, Kenilworth, Evanston and Winnetka, known as “No Man’s Land.”

To learn more about the history of Plaza del Lago, copies of author Robert Shea’s book, “From No Man’s Land to Plaza del Lago,” detailing the site’s history and including many pictures of the area’s past, is available for purchase at No Man’s Land Pizza & Grill. Or, check out the recently released “Images of America: Wilmette.” Drawing upon the extensive collections of the Wilmette Historical Museum, Kathy Hussey-Arntson, executive director of the Wilmette Historical Museum and Patrick Leary, Museum Curator, have chosen images for a new book that capture highlights from over 150 years of Wilmette’s varied and occasionally contentious history. Copies of this book can be purchased through the Wilmette Historical Museum. Visit www.wilmettehistory.org for more details.